Playoff race: Breaking down and predicting the remaining Jazz and Lakers games

Not only do the Jazz and Lakers have a combined nine games remaining, but they play six of those games on the same nights. Here's a look at both teams' remaining games in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Tuesday, April 9

Oklahoma City at Utah

While the Thunder are elite, their record (currently 56-21) isn't elite enough to allow them to rest like Miami in the East. OKC is well within striking distance of first place in the West, currently one game behind the Spurs.

The Jazz have won just one of their three previous meetings against OKC, though that one — like Tuesday's game — was at EnergySolutions Arena. Furthermore, the Thunder have suffered 15 of their 20 defeats on the road, compared to 22 wins away from home.

That Jazz win, however, also featured flagrant fouls from Kendrick Perkins (not surprising) and Kevin Durant (shocking — it was his first ever). The Jazz will need to similarly frustrate them, or at least dominate them inside, for a similar result.

Probable outcome: Oklahoma City wins

New Orleans at Los Angeles

The Hornets have lost all three previous meetings against the Lakers this season, and there's little reason to believe the fourth time around will be a charm. Shooting forward Ryan Anderson (16.4 ppg, 38.8 percent from 3-point range) may cause the Lakers some trouble, but it's doubtful New Orleans will pull off the shocker in L.A.

This is the only back-to-back set between the Jazz and the Lakers, with travel throwing in a possible wrench. Portland forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicholas Batum could both be healthy for these games, making the Blazers a tougher-than-first-glance lottery opponent.

The teams split their first two meetings before L.A. edged Portland 111-107 back in February (Kobe Bryant scored 40 in that game). The Blazers' perimeter players have shredded the Lakers' perimeter defense all season, with Batum and Wesley Matthews both shooting more than 55 percent from the field in their three games combined.

The flip side? Dwight Howard has manhandled Portland to the tune of 24.3 points and 14.7 rebounds over those three games.

The downside for L.A.? This will be the second game in a back-to-back and their third game in four nights — a tall order for an older and battered team. As for Portland, the Blazers will be coming off two off days and will be in the middle of a five-game homestand.

The injury-ravaged Timberwolves have shown some life lately behind second-year guard Ricky Rubio, who missed the early portion of the season with a torn ACL. The Spanish playmaker has averaged 14.8 ppg, 9.8 apg, 5.4 rpg and 3.4 spg over his past five games.

Rubio was one assist shy of a triple-double in the teams' previous meeting, a 97-93 Jazz win at the Target Center.

Kevin Love's continued absence due to an injured right hand won't help the Timberwolves' biggest issue against the Jazz this season: outside shooting. Minnesota has shot just 34.4 percent against Utah this season.

Probable outcome: Utah wins

Golden State at Los Angeles

The Lakers will be in danger of again having their perimeter defense exposed. Warriors sixth man Jarrett Jack has gone off for an average of 17 points per game in the previous three contests between the two teams, with Klay Thompson (18.3 ppg) and Stephen Curry (21 ppg) compounding the problem.

The Lakers, however, won the first two meetings before dropping the most recent one, a March 25, six-point loss at Oracle Arena. The Warriors led by as many as 25 in that game, though they were the Lakers' only playoff opponent in an eight-game span.

Steve Nash's health (hamstring, hip) could be the X factor, as the veteran guard has had his way (16.5 ppg, 8 apg, 6 rpg) against the Warriors this season.

Meanwhile, this game will mark the back end of a back-to-back for Golden State, as well as their third game in four nights.

For all the first-glance discrepancies between the Spurs and Lakers (first place/eighth place, cohesive/drama-filled), the two previous meetings between them have been decided by a combined five points.

Also something that could very well be in play: the Spurs' starters sitting this one out. This would only happen if home-court advantage in the West is already decided, a factor that won't be known until later this week.

If the Spurs do have ample cushion in the standings, expect the Jazz and their fans' hearts to sink when Greg Popovich sits all of his stars. With only two games before Sunday's showdown, however, it's doubtful the Spurs will have that much breathing room.

The Jazz and Timberwolves will have two days off between back-to-back meetings, with only the venue being the difference. Minnesota has notched several impressive wins at home, including victories over the Spurs, Thunder (twice) and Nuggets.

Utah won the previous meeting at the Target Center, 97-93, and that was despite shooting just 2 of 11 from 3-point range and playing without Mo Williams.

Probable outcome: Utah wins

Probable standings result: Utah increases its lead over Los Angeles to one game.

Wednesday, April 17

Utah at Memphis

This game will very much hinge on the Grizzlies' playoff position at this point. With important games still remaining against the Clippers and Rockets, it's impossible to tell whether Memphis will be a) going all-out for better playoff seeding or b) secure in its spot and resting key players.

Then again, with the game on ESPN, Memphis may play its starters semi-significant minutes anyway.

Probable outcome: Memphis wins

Houston at Los Angeles

Expect the Rockets to approach their season finale much like the Grizzlies approach theirs: based on the standings. If there's still something at stake, Jeremy Lin and James Harden will likely play heavy minutes (which has led to two out of three wins over the Lakers).

If there's nothing to gain, Houston may very well give Harden and Lin some much-needed rest before the playoffs.

This game is much more of a toss-up, so Jazz fans may want to assume the worst.

Probable outcome: Los Angeles wins

Probable standings result: Los Angeles and Utah fall into a tie for eighth place, and the Jazz are awarded a playoff spot by virtue of head-to-head tiebreaker.